With all the threads about Stielow's Solstice and the Eco-tech Chevette I've been wondering "what could I do with that old Bugeye'd Sprite I've had in storage for 25 years?"
I bought the car at 15 from a local guy as a father & son project that a change to 2nd shift prevented from happening... it's still setting there waiting. Most of the parts to restore it are there... many still in the packaging that they came from. Obviously after all these years of just setting in pieces everything will need to be gone through mechanically... so I've been thinking... would it be easier to ditch the stock suspension and the anemic green Austin 4-cylinder in favor of something more modern?
Keeping it simple and as budget minded as possible, what would you do?
the healey frame isnt that stiff.... and the suspesnion isnt that modern... dependung on your budget... but id' stuff a different frame under there
i saw a picture of a healey in an old magazine that had the daytona fenderflares and an SBC.. and it was the coolest thing ever.... totally AC cobra with austin genes....
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Elwood:We're 105 miles from Chicago, we have a full tank of gas, half pack of cigarettes, it's dark out and we're wearing sunglasses.
Jake: Hit it.
I'm helping my friend rebuild a 61 3000. It was his dad's car from the 60's. I guess his old man used to road race it to. We're going with a carb'd 302 Ferd and a T5 trans. Probably going to use a narrowed 8.8 with some kind of 4 link. We kind of thought min-tubs should work since he isn't going to keep the back seat. I have found a few pictures around the healy fourms that show some creative suspensions.
There will be some kind of upper and lower A arms on this one when we get done.
There are 4 on eBay right now with bidding between $6000-8500.
I've been thinking that a full frame would be easy to fab with dual tubular A-arms with coil overs up front and a simple 4 link out back. I was thinking Buick V6 Turbo or one of the newer 4-6 cylinders. Stock the cars only weighed about 1300lbs! A like the mini-AC Cobra idea. I remember seeing a Hot Rod article on one with a tradition SBC when I was a kid too...
I'm helping my friend rebuild a 61 3000. It was his dad's car from the 60's. I guess his old man used to road race it to. We're going with a carb'd 302 Ferd and a T5 trans. Probably going to use a narrowed 8.8 with some kind of 4 link. We kind of thought min-tubs should work since he isn't going to keep the back seat. I have found a few pictures around the healy fourms that show some creative suspensions.
There will be some kind of upper and lower A arms on this one when we get done.
If mine were a 3000 I'd be going the resto route! If I'd only known then...
My wife loves the black one that Steve Martin drives in Father of the Bride 2!
Btw , i think Healeys are really really cool car. Last we were on holiday in Lake como italy. And in the same hotel was one guy with pure pro-touring austin healey. It had racing stripes,numbers, roll gage , all the safety stuff etc etc . Next morning i saw him checking the oil of the 3000cc inline six. I went to talk with him and he told he was from neatherlands and had bee touring with hes wife from big austin healey rally thru germany and france. Then to italy and now heading back home!!! Engine had lots of hipo parts and sounded really nice. He told me its a blast to drive curvy roads over the alps. Isnt that a pro touring car or not !! I have to check do i found the picture of the car.
Brian Hobaugh SCCA National Tour June 2014
First Hemi 'Cuda Convertible Ever Built
Short clips: Goodguys Pleasanton autocross and pit videos
1960 Austin Healey - Pro-Tour?
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